Please critique me

[alexchern75]

I took this picture of a California Poppy during a family member's wedding in Englebright California. This was taken with a canon A-85 and processed with photoshp 7. this is the end of week 1 of learning photoshop on my own.
what do you think can make this picture better?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/alexchern75/calpoppy.jpg

[Vetteography]

I like that a lot! You could leave it just like that and it would be an excellent photo.

If you want to play with it more, do the same selection, but just mute the colors of the leaves and grass so that you can just tell they are green while keeping the flower exactly like it is above. I love messing with stuff in Photoshop!

[Jraun]

Great - not sure what you are looking for - however, I would think back ground would be greener not the black / gray you're showing -- again, not sure what you are going for - besides that I like it and would be proud to have taken the shot.

[alexchern75]

I really appreciate the nice comments. I'm most definitelly going to try with background muted colors rather that desaturated...

[Croasdail]

I think also if you were to blur the background a little more it would drive the focus more the the flower. Kinda simulate a shalower depth of field. The still high contrast images in the background distract somewhat from what is truely a wonderfully done flower.

[PhotosGuy]

Too much background & not enough flower?